Grain cleaning and separating apparatus



Oct. 28, 1958 H. A. LINDAHL ETAL I 2,358,019

- GRAIN CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1956 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hal Harry A. L/naah/ har/ 5615/0) Sfr-anabery ATTORNEY Oct. 28, 1958 H. A. LINDAHL ET AL 2,858,019

GRAIN CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Eknn ATTOR EY Oct. 28, 1958 H. A. LINDAHL ETAL 9 GRAIN CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Harry A. Linda/M ffar/ Gasfaf Sham/berg F a BY /6r gmomw Patented Oct. 28, 1958 GRAIN CLEANING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS Harry A..li.indahl and Karl Gustaf Strandberg, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 624,047 9 Claims. (Cl. 209-45) This invention relates to an Improvement in grain cleaning and separating apparatus and deals particularly with a means of emptying grain from a grain cleaning and separating machine after the operation is completed.

At the completion of the grain cleaning or separating operation it is usual practice to continue the operation of the machine after the supply of grain has been stopped until most of the grain has been removed from the machine. This is particularly true when the appartus is next to be used for separating and cleaning different types of grain. As machines of this type are designed to operate with a steady influx of grain and do not operate efficiently when a lesser amount of grain is present considerable time is sometimes required to remove all of the grain from the apparatus. For example, some grain cleaning and separating machines are often run for perhaps a half hour after the supply of incoming grain has been cut off in order to empty the machine. Obviously, such a procedure is costly and time consuming.

An object of the present invention resides in the pro vision of a manually operable conveyor incorporated in the grain cleaning and separating appartus which may be operated to quickly empty the machine. As a result, the machine may be turned off shortly after the supply of grain has been stopped and the machine may be quickly emptied.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a manually operable screw conveyor located at the bottom of the outer grain trough and into which the grain will naturally feed by gravity during the operation of the inner separating cylinder. During normal operation, this conveyor remains stationary and covered with grain and accordingly does not interfere in any way with the separation of the grain. At the completion of the separating operation, this conveyor may be operated for an extremely short period of time and will quickly empty the outer grain trough of grain.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a cleaning and separating device having inner and outer tapered cylinders which act to move the grain toward one end of the cylinder during the operation thereof. An outer grain trough is provided outwardly of the inner tapered cylinder and within the outer tapered cylinder, this trough acting to collect the grain lifted by the pocketed outer cylinder during the operation of the apparatus. An inner trough is provided inwardly of the inner cylinder to collect the grain lifted by the inner pocketed cylinder. The inner cylinder is provided with a screw conveyor which quickly conveys the grain in this inner trough to a suitable outlet. The taper of the cylinders also quickly acts to convey the grain therein to the outlet end thereof. Means is provided on the outer surface of the inner cylinder to drive the grain toward an end of this cylinder opposite the outlet end thereof. As a result grain is quickly expelled from both cylinders and from the inner trough. However, grain in the outer trough is not quickly expelled as the normal means for moving this grain drives the grain away from the outlet end of the machine and as this means for moving the grain does not function properly when the machine is almost empty of grain. Thus, by providing a manual conveyor in this outer cylinder, all of the grain in the machine may be quickly emptied.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a tapered wing on the outer trough which provides an opening of predetermined width between this wing and the outer cylinder. As a result of this arrangement the same separating action is provided throughout the length of the tapered cylinder.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane through the grain cleaning and separating apparatus.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one end of the machine showing the arrangement of parts thereon.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane through the apparatus, portions of the apparatus being omitted in order to illustrate the manually operable conveyor.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with portions of the apparatus broken away to illustrate the interior construction.

Figure 6 is a section showing a detail of the construction.

Figure 7 is an end view of the manually operated conveyor support.

The grain cleaning and separating apparatus is illustrated in general by the letter A. The cleaner is supported within a generally rectangular housing It) having upper and lower wall panels 11 and 12 and side wall panels 13 and 14. The housing also includes a rear end wall 15 having an aperture therethrough at 16. The aperture 16 is reinforced by a reinforcing casting 17 having a registering aperture therethrough. The reinforcing castings serve as a support for a pair of rollers 19 inwardly of the end wall 15 and rotatably supported on stub shafts projecting through the end Wall and into the reinforcing casting 17.

An outer tapered cylinder 20 is rotatably supported within the housing 10. A pair of rollers 21 mounted upon stub shafts 22 support the cylinder 20. These rollers 21 support the large diameter end of the cylinder 20. This cylinder is provided with an indented or pocketed inner surface which is now well known in devices of this type. The other or smaller diameter end of the cylinder 20 is provided with an end closure plate 23 having an aperture 24 therethrough. A reinforcing casting 25 is mounted upon the end closure plate 23 and is provided with an integral hub 26 having an inner diameter substantially similar to the inner diameter of the aperture 24. A sprocket 27 is secured to the hub 26 to rotate in unison therewith. The hub 26 is also provided with a roller groove 29 in its outer surface. This groove 29 acts to accommodate the rollers 19 previously described. Thus the small diameter end of the outer cylinder 20 is supported by the spaced rollers 19 and the cylinder is freely rotatable within the outer housing.

A drive shaft 36 is supported by suitable bearings, one of which is indicated at 31 and the shaft extends through the end closure 15 of the housing. A sprocket 32 is mounted upon the shaft 3t and this sprocket is connected by a chain 33 with the sprocket 27 attached to the hub 26. A pulley 34 is provided on the shaft 30 by means of which the shaft may be rotated to rotate the tapered cylinder 20 in unison therewith or in timed relation thereto. A sleeve 35 is supported to extend through the hub 2-5 and also to extend through the reinforcing casting 15 on the outer closure plate 17. bearing for this sleeve 35. As is indicated in Figure l of the drawings, the upper portion of this sleeve 35 is extended as indicated at 36. A flange 37 on the ex- The reinforcing plate serves as a tension is bolted or otherwise secured to an end plate 39 of an outer grain trough 38. The purpose of this trough will be later described in detail.

A central conveyor shaft 40 is supported by bearings 41 and 42 at opposite ends of the apparatus. A mounting plate 43 is supported in spaced relation to the rear closure of the housing 10 by any suitable means such as by vertical connecting plates 44. The rear bearing 42 is mounted upon this plate 43. As is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the forward end or discharge end of the apparatus includes a generally rectangular forwardly extending housing portion 45 upon which is mounted a second smaller forwardly extending extension 46. A chute 47 communicates with a hollow enclosure 49 extending forwardly from the housing extension 46. The purpose of this arrangement will be clear after a further explanation of the construction of the apparatus. The shafts 22 which support the rollers 21 are supported by bearings such as 50 on the housing extension 45. The conveyor shaft 40 is supported by its forward bearing 41 which is mounted upon the housing extension 49. The conveyor shaft 40 is free to rotate in these bearings 41 and 42.

The trough 38 is cylindrical in form and the rear end closure 39 of the trough 38 is provided with a bearing 51 which encircles the conveyor shaft 40. As is indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings the front or forward end of the outer trough 38 is bolted or otherwise secured to the housing extension as indicated at 52. As is indicated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings the upper portion of the cylindrical trough is cut away to provide a trough opening 53. The purpose of the trough opening 53 is to permit the entry of grain into the trough, which grain has been carried upwardly by the pockets or indentations in the outer cylinder 20. As may also be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings the cut away portion 53 terminates short of the end of the trough shaped cylinder leaving a cylindrical portion 54 at the rear end of the trough attached to the end closure plate 39, and a cylindrical portion 55 at the forward end of the trough which extends into, and is supported by, the housing extension 46.

A pair of guides 56 and 57 are arranged in arcuate relation at opposite ends of the trough 38 to project outwardly therefrom. As indicated in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings an arcuate wing 59 is slidably supported upon the guides 56 and 57, the ends of the wing 59 being equipped with clips 60 and 61 which extend over the edges of the guides 56 and 57 to slide the wing in a circumferential direction. The guide 56 at the discharge end of the apparatus also provides a bearing 62 for a shaft 63 having a crank arm 64. A link 65 is pivotally connected at one end to the crank arm 64 and is pivotally connected at the other end 66 to an ear 67 mounted upon the wing 59. It is important to note, as from Figure 5 of the drawings, that the wing 59 tapers so that the edge of this wing, which extends in a generally radial direction, is at substantially the same distance from the inner surface of the outer cylinder throughout the length of the wing.

The shaft 63 extends through the housing extension 45 and is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 69. By rotation of this hand wheel 69 in one direction, the crank arm 64 may be operated to move the wing 58 in one circumferential direction while rotation of the operating wheel 69 in the opposite direction moves the wing in the other circumferential direction.

Figure 4 of the drawings shows the applicants construction as described to the present time omitting the inner separating cylinder and inner trough which will be later described. This has been done in order to show the trough emptying conveyor which is an important feature of the present invention. Figure 4 of the drawings shows the trough 38 as having an elongated slot 70 in the lower extremity of the trough, this trough 4 terminating just short of the cylindrical ends 54 and 55 of the trough. To prevent any danger of injury to the cylindrical screen due to a flexing of the conveyor shaft or a flexing of the trough itself, the slot is bridged by longitudinally spaced cross braces 71.

With reference now to Figure '3 of the drawings, a small auxiliary trough 72 is provided beneath the elongated slot 70, this trough 72 having a closed rear end 73 as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings and having an open forward end 74 as indicated in Figure l of the drawings. The trough is formed as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 7 of the drawings and includes two sloping side portions 75 and 76 which are connected by sloping portions 77 and 79 which slant at a lesser degree from the horizontal than the upper side portions 75 and 76. The end closure 73 also inclines forwardly as indicated at 80 so as to assist in the removal of grain from the apparatus.

A conveyor shaft 81 is supported by the closed end 73 of the auxiliary chute 72, this shaft 81 extending through the closure plate and supporting a sleeve or collar 83 to hold the shaft 81 from longitudinal movement in one direction. A spiral conveyor 84 is mounted upon the shaft 81. In preferred form, the spiral conveyor 84 is cut away beneath the cross braces 71 to prevent the periphery of the conveyor from engaging these cross members 71 in the event the conveyor shaft flexes to some extent.

The shaft 81 extends through the forward face 85 of the housing extension and the forward end of the shaft 81 is provided with a crank handle 86 and crank 87 by means of which the shaft may be rotated. By rotating the shaft 81 in one direction, grain may be moved toward the forward end of the auxiliary chute 72.

A second tapered cylindrical screen 89 is rotatably supported inwardly of the trough 38. The forward or discharge end of the screen 89 is supported by a pair of spaced rollers 90 one of which is illustated in Figure l of the drawings. The rollers 90 engage the inner surface of the forward end of the screen 89 and are supported on hub shafts 91 mounted in suitable bearings 92 on the forward face 85 of the housing extension 46. A spider 93 is mounted within the small diameter end of the screen 89, the spider 93 being provided with a hub 94 which is secured to the shaft 40 for rotation in unison therewith. A helically wound angle member or series of angle members 95 are secured to the outer surface of the screen 89, the distance between the convolutions of the members 95 gradually increasing toward the forward or large diameter end of the screen. These outwardly projecting members 95 are arranged to move the grain gradually toward the rear end of the trough 38. When the grain is driven against the end closure plate 39 of the trough 38, it banks up and is drawn into the inner surface of the screen 89 by the angularly bent webs 96 of the spider 93.

An inner trough 97 is mounted within the inner cylinder 89. The trough 97 includes an end plate 99 supporting a bearing 100 which encircles the conveyor shaft 40. The rear end of the trough is supported in this manner.

As indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the trough 97 is provided with a cylindrical forward end 101 which extends through an aperture 102 in the front cover plate 85 of the housing extension 46. While not illustrated in detail, the cylindrical portion 101 is provided with a series of angularly spaced apertures 103 therein into which a sprocket 104 may extend, the teeth of the sprocket engaging in the apertures 103. The sprocket 104 is mounted upon a shaft 105 provided at its forward end with a hand wheel 106 by means of which the shaft may be rotated. The shaft 105 is supported by suitable bearings on the housing extension 46. By rotation of the hand wheel 106, the trough 97 may be rotated to adjust the angularity thereof. This is desired as different types of grains fall from the pockets of, the inner indented cylinder 89 at a different elevation from other grains and as some such adjustment is necessary.

As indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the trough 97 includes downwardly converging plates lit? and N19 which are joined by downwardly converging plates of panels 110 and 111. This arrangement is provided so that the upper portions of the trough sides may be at a relatively steep angle with respect to the horizontal while the bottom portion of the trough may fit closely about the conveyor 120.

As is indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the forward end of the outer cylinder 2% extends into the housing extension 45 which is provided at its lower extremity with a relatively large discharge chute 112. A retarding means such as that illustrated in our previous application which is now Patent 2,771,192 is used at the outlet end of the outer cylinder 20, this retarding means being indicated in general by the numeral 113. As this retarding means includes two sections which are adjustably related, the

length of the retarding means can be adjusted so that the grain may leave the end of the outer cylinder without difliculty when it is desired.

The inner cylinder 89 projects beyond the outer cylinder 20 and into the housing extension 46. An outlet chute 114 is provided at the lower end of the housing extension 46 to'permit grain from within the inner cylinder 89 to be discharged. As in the previously described arrangement, the inner cylinder 89 is provided with a retarding element 115 which is not shown in detail but which may be arranged to permit the escape of grain from the inner cylinder with greater or lesser ease as is desired. The cylindrical forward end 101 of the inner trough 97 extends into the extension housing 49 which is provided with a discharge chute 47. Thus grain in the inner trough 97 is readily conveyed into the discharge chute 47 An intake chute 116 leads downwardly from any source of supply to a horizontal sleeve 117 which extends into the sleeve 35 extending through the end wall of the housing and which is attached to the outer trough 38. An inclined bafile is provided at the lower end of the chute 116 to guide the grain inwardly through the sleeve 35 where it is free to drop into the outer cylinder 20. In the operation of the apparatus, the incoming grain is guided from the intake chute 16 by the baflle 119 through the sleeve 35 and into the outer cylinder 20. The grain gradually moves toward the outlet end of the machine due to the slight taper of the cylindrical screen 20. Rotation of this screen carries certain of the grain upwardly to an elevation sufiicient to pass the tapered edge 58 of the wing 59. This grain then drops into the trough 38 outwardly of the inner screen 89..

The grain which cannot be elevated by the screen so as to enter the trough 38 finally passes the retarder 113 and drops into the outlet chute 112. The grain which drops into the trough 38 is moved by the spiral projection 95 on the outer surface of the inner screen 89 toward the inlet end of the apparatus. This grain banks up sufficiently to be drawn into the inner cylinder 89 by the inclined arm 96 of the spider 93.

Rotation of the cylinder 89 causes some of the grain to be carried upwardly sufficiently to enter the inner trough 97. Grain entering the' trough 97 is moved by the conveyor 120 through the cylindrical end 101 of the trough and dropped into the outlet chute 47. The grain which does not enter the trough 97 gradually moves to the discharge end of the apparatus due to the taper of the cylinder 89 and passes the retarder 115 to drop into the outlet chute 114.

When it is desired to empty the apparatus, as is the case when the separator and cleaner is to be used on a different type of grain, the flow of grain into the apparatus is stopped. If desired the retarders 113 and 115 may be adjusted so as to simplify the passage of grain into the various outlet chutes. The outer cylinder 20 is then quickly emptied due to the taper of the cylinder and due to the fact that the retarding effect upon the grain tending to retard its movement toward the discharge of the machine may be relieved. The same is true of grain within the inner cylinder 89. The grain within the inner chute 97 is quickly expelled by the conveyor 12%). in the past some difficulty has been experienced in removing the grain from the outer trough 33 due to the fact that grain in this chute is moved only by the spiral projections on the inner screen 89 and the grain in the trough must build up sufiiciently to enter the cylinder 89.

In the present arrangement, any grain within the trough 38 naturally fills and overflows the auxiliary trough 72. By rotating the conveyor shaft 81 by the crank 87 the spiral conveyor 34 will quickly move the grain in this auxiliary trough to the open forward end thereof from where it may drop into the outer cylinder 20. From the outer cylinder 20 it may quickly drain into the discharge chute 112. Any additional grain outwardly of the auxiliary trough 72 will readily drain through the slots '70 and into this auxiliary trough so as to quickly empty the outer trough 38.

In accordance with the patent statutes, We have described the principles of construction and operation of our improvement in grain cleaning and separating apparatus, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A grain separator including a separating cylinder having indentations in its inner surface, a trough within said cylinder, an auxiliary trough at the lower end of said trough, said auxiliary trough communicating with the interior of said trough, and a conveyor within said auxiliary trough to move grain longitudinally thereof.

2. The construction described in claim 1 and in which said conveyor is manually operable.

3. The construction described in claim 1 and in which said conveyor comprises a spiral conveyor.

4. A grain separator including a tapered separating cylinder having indentations on its inner surface, a trough within said cylinder, an auxiliary trough connected to said trough and communicating with the interior thereof at the bottom of said trough, and a conveyor within said auxiliary trough, said conveyor being capable of conveying grain within said auxiliary trough toward the large diameter end of said cylinder.

5. The construction described in claim 4 and in which said conveyor is a spiral conveyor.

6. The construction described in claim 4 and including means for manually operating said conveyor.

7. A grain separator including an outer tapered cylinder, a grain inlet thereto, a trough within said cylinder, a second grain cylinder within said trough, a second trough within said second grain cylinder, said cylinders being tapered and having the large diameter end of the first cylinder encircling the outer larger diameter end of said inner cylinder, said cylinders being indented on the inner surface thereof, said inner cylinder including means for moving grain within said first trough toward the small diameter end of said inner cylinder, and an auxiliary trough communicating with the lower portion of said first trough, said auxiliary trough including a conveyor.

8. The construction described in claim 7 and in which the conveyor comprises a spiral conveyor.

9. The construction described in claim 7 and in which the conveyor includes means for manually operating the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,771,192 Lindahl et a1 NOV. 20, 1956 

